Anor Showing Improvement

By: Adam Jardy

The Columbus Dispatch - March 23, 2012 07:34 AM

When the Crew trained yesterday on its home pitch at Crew Stadium, Bernardo Anor found himself
with the starting unit in relief of the injured Dilly Duka. When Duka went down in the season
opener two weeks ago at Colorado, he was immediately replaced by rookie Ethan Finlay, who looked to
be his fill-in for the home opener. Instead, Anor appears to have passed Finlay just in time for
the home opener Saturday against Montreal.

Anor said his time with the starters was a testament to how he has played since shaking off a
groin injury that happened in the final weeks of the preseason.

“It’s been tough for me the last few weeks because unfortunately at the end of the preseason
when I was doing my best, I got injured and I lost a week and the last two friendly games we played
before our first match,” he said. “It was hard to be in the First 18 and looking for minutes was
tougher. I’ve been waiting for the right moment to get my opportunity back on the field and
hopefully show them I can be on the first team.”

The injury, Anor said, was tightness in his groin that forced him to rest rather than risk
further aggravating the muscle.

Finlay has looked explosive at times throughout the preseason but head coach Robert Warzycha has
pointed out that the rookie still has plenty to learn about the professional game. Yesterday marked
the first time I have seen Anor in Finlay’s place since Duka first went down.

Anor said the wait for a chance has not always been easy.

“You go through frustration because you don’t see that time coming soon,” Anor said. “This past
week I’ve had a chance to participate with them. I know I can score a lot and provide a lot of good
things. It’s just about giving me the confidence and the time to do it.”

Warzycha said Anor suffered a twisted shoulder in a recent reserve match but said he is enjoying
the competition between the second-year player and the rookie.

“(Bernardo) is a good player,” the coach said. “He needs to do things right and do what we ask
him to do on the field and he has a chance to play.

“We have a competition (there). We have a couple good players at that position and whoever is
going to play better is going to see the field. Justin Meram is also in the mix, so it’s not only
those two guys.”

Meram has gotten back into action after missing three weeks with an injury of his own.

Anor said he still has plenty of room for improvement.

“I still have a huge way to go,” he said. “I need to get better and I’ve still got to teach
myself. Hopefully I keep learning.”

Balchan’s Tweets: I will try to get more information this afternoon at training,
but the injured Rich Balchan posted two messages to his personal Twitter account that seem to
indicate he will not soon be back in action.

“Just another bump on the road..I've overcome much more adverse situations than this...strength
and character are built through these times” he wrote at 11:58 p.m.

That message was followed up by, “Been 9 months and counting since I've been hurt..must remain
patient cuz the feeling of overcoming this will far outweigh the hardships”

Check back later for more from practice and this week’s installment of Pitch Talk in advance of
tomorrow’s match.